Bieb's mom goes to bat for Bethesda

Justin Bieber's mom has added her voice to those of other one-time pregnant teens in crisis, urging the Salvation Army to keep a London home for pregnant teenagers open.

Patti Mallette wants Sally Ann officials to continue operating the Bethesda Centre where, as a troubled 17-year-old from Stratford, she sought shelter and support as she carried the child of former boyfriend Jeremy Bieber.

"We are still talking with her," Maj. Pat Phinney, a spokesperson for the Salvation Army, said Tuesday.

"There is (an) ongoing conversation" with Phinney and a senior army official, he added.

Bieber, the teen heart-throb, was born 18 years ago Thursday at St. Joseph's Hospital in London while his mother stayed at Bethesda.

Mallette -- who'd resorted to drugs and alcohol at age 14 -- was involved in several unstable emotional relationships before becoming pregnant and seeking help.

By odd coincidence, Bieber's first hit was a song called Baby.

Today, Patti lives with the pop star in California, but has been anxiously following the closing controversy that has inundated the Salvation Army with appeals to keep the 57-year-old Riverview Ave. facility open.

Mallette has been working closely with Elaine Moore, a fellow Stratford native, who was at Bethesda at the same time and who gave birth to a daughter.

Moore, now of Dublin, said she and Mallette have remained close.

Since the Bethesda closing was announced, the two have regularly been in touch by phone and e-mail.

"She is willing to raise public awareness on the importance of the Bethesda residence," Moore said. Mallette continues to work with Sally Ann officials, hoping they may reconsider their plan.

Moore said she and Mallette were among three troubled teen Stratford girls who stayed at Bethesda at the same time and have kept in touch.

A core group of about 25 former residents have banded together to fight the closing.

"I am extremely proud because I have over 300 e-mails from people who have asked to help," Moore said. "There has been an overwhelming response."

She hopes to meet face to face with Salvation Army officials March 5 to plead with them to keep Bethesda.

Her "Save Bethesda" group has established a Facebookk page to share information and organize.

The early response prompted Phinney to issue a statement Feb. 24 saying the Salvation Army "is listening to the mounting concerns . . . and is working hard to develop a response. We anticipate being in a position to speak publicly to those concerns in approximately two weeks."

Phinney conceded she was swamped by e-mails and wants to issue a comprehensive response.

She said the funding model for Bethesda is broken and can't be fixed, so closing is the only option.

With a budget of about $1.2 million, split between the province and the Army, the centre has been operating at a deficit of $300,000 to $400,000 a year for about five years, she said.

"We have been pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars from our reserves into that unit to keep it alive," she said.

"We can't continue to do that. The well is running dry. We're in trouble."

Asked about hopes the closing decision will be reversed in two weeks, she said, "We have already announced a definitive decision. Our issue is we have such overwhelming concern coming back to us from the community, we want to respond to that appropriately and we want to do so in a public statement.

"Our statement in response to any rumour will come in two weeks," she said.

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ABOUT BETHESDA

Operated by Salvation Army on Riverview Ave. in London

Annual budget of about $1.2 million, funded by Salvation Army and the province.

Budget shortfall of $300,000 to $400,000 in recent years.

In operation for 57 years; has a staff of 27.

Offers support and counselling for pregnant teens under 18, before and after birth of babies.

Has capacity for 18 mothers and babies. Seven now in the program.

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BETHESDA TESTIMONIALS

"Bethesda has been home for many young mothers and it has literally saved lives. I know it save my life and that of my children. I was living on friends' couches for months prior to moving into Bethesda. I was underweight and due in a month's time . . . I gained weight and delivered a healthy little boy. While living at Bethesda I learned valuable skills, that in the years since have been life-changing. I went back to school, graduated from high school, went to college and am celebrating 15 years of marriage now. All of these accomplishments can be attributed to Bethesda."

--Shelley Woitowich, London

"I was 17 years old and from Stratford when I became pregnant with my daughter. I didn't know Bethesda existed . . . I looked into the centre and saw that they provided schooling and day care and taught you life skills and financial skills and counselling. I knew that if I wanted to keep my baby, then this was the place to be. The impact of Bethesda in my life is enormous . . . I was able to continue my education and (it) gave me all the resources I could need for raising a baby and keeping us happy, healthy and safe."

--Elaine Romphf-Moore, Dublin

"When I arrived at Bethesda, I was a mess: malnourished, scared and coming off drugs. (Bethesda) provided me all the tools I needed to succeed in my efforts to be a good mum and a contributing member of society. If the Bethesda program ceases to exist and these young women in our communities have nowhere to turn, I'm afraid to think where they and their babies are going to end up."